I Will Carry as an Academy Veteran

18

We leisurely walked through the western forest.

“Um, um, are we on the right path, Senior…?”

“We are. So stop the chit-chat and just follow me.”

I slashed through the undergrowth with the dagger, pushing further into the forest, while Milije followed me blankly.

“Isn’t it fascinating?”

“Yes? Oh, yes. I’ve only seen the western forest from afar, so this is my first time actually entering it…”

“Hmm.”

Well, that makes sense.

While the outskirts of the western forest are home to creatures like rabbits and raccoons, deeper in, you need to be cautious of actual monsters like goblins and slimes.

If you go all the way in, you might even encounter orcs.

Well, like in any field, the deeper you go, the stronger the monsters become, so it’s not just a beginner’s field.

And so.

“Oh! Senior!”

The terrifying monster we encountered for the first time was, well…

A rabbit.

“Hmm.”

“It’s cute!”

Milije became interested.

The white rabbit with red eyes perked up its ears and gazed at us.

“Can, can I touch it?”

“Be careful.”

Milije approached the rabbit slowly, reaching out her hand, and just then.

“The rabbit ran away.”

The rabbit, hopping away, suddenly met its end on the blade that sprung out of the bushes.

“Oops…!”

Following, a female knight student in a blue tracksuit swiftly emerged, greeted us with a nod, then hoisted the dead rabbit over her shoulder, slung the sword, and headed elsewhere.

“What just happened?”

“Well, it could be an assignment or training. Seems like they’re showing gratitude for us herding the rabbit in one direction.”

“I see…”

As we ventured further in.

“If we miss it, we’ll go hungry today!”

“Silence, let it be my meal!”

“Indeed… it looks incredibly challenging.”

“Small yet strong and agile. Milije, this way.”

Moving away from the area where knight students were fervently chasing rabbits and raccoons, we walked deeper into the forest.

“I feel a creepy vibe here.”

“This is the ‘Midway.’ We’ve taken a shortcut back. Let’s try not to make noise. Goblins are around from here on.”

“Eek…”

At the mention of goblins, Milije grabbed my sleeve.

Silently, I slashed through the bushes with a dagger and delved even deeper.

In the distance, knight students were seen forming a party and entering deeper into the forest, silently wishing them luck.

“They must be nearby.”

After pushing through a bush, a clearing with a pile of rocks that seemed intentionally placed to hint at something emerged.

“This way.”

“Here… you mean?”

“Step back. [Low-tier Fire Elemental Magic: Fireball], [Low-tier Wind Elemental Magic: Wind Blade].”

A red heat emanated from my outstretched hand.

As the wind howled, in that moment.

[Two magic spells capable of synergy!]

[Automatically combined!]

An alert window popped up before me, merging the two spells.

Golden hair shimmered, and the robe over the uniform fluttered in the fierce wind.

“[Low-tier Fire, Wind Elemental Magic: Fire Blade].”

-Boom!

Fiery flames mixed with the gust of wind, surpassing the power of Wind Blade, ravaging the rock pile.

Shards scattered in all directions.

“Eek?”

“Don’t move. [Low-tier Wind Elemental Magic: Wind Blade].”

Embracing Milije with one arm, I unleashed Wind Blade in all directions, slicing the rock pile into pieces.

Around me, blue orbs rose, emitting sharp winds.

The rain poured down like grains of sand-like pebbles.

My magical power has increased compared to last time, making it easier to use, and the effects were more pronounced.

[Proficiency in Elemental Synergy Magic is increasing!]

[Through the effects of Elemental Synergy Magic, the proficiency of each magic skill is dramatically increasing!]

Hmm, nice.

Being a veteran means always seeking efficiency and gaining benefits wherever you go.

“Senior, look over there!”

Where Milijeh pointed, a pile of rocks that had surrounded the entrance just moments ago collapsed, revealing a door.

“Come. The commotion just now must have attracted the monsters’ aggro.”

“Well, senior, what exactly is this place…?”

Opening the door, we stepped inside.

The path continued.

It wasn’t a cave but a path made of stone.

Though dark, thanks to the mana stones regularly embedded in the ceiling, it wasn’t completely pitch black.

“…Is this… a dungeon?”

“Something similar.”

As we descended the stairs leading underground, a large chamber emerged.

In the center of the chamber, there was a well out of nowhere.

We stopped in front of the well.

“Um, is this a well? How can there be a well in this underground place…?”

“Milijeh.”

The beige-haired girl turned her head at my call.

“Yes, Senior.”

“You cannot use magic right now. Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

Her condition was an inability to use magic.

I needed to resolve this issue first to potentially elevate her to a Tier 1 Spirit User.

The reason I devoted time on the weekend was that the sooner we solve this, the better.

If we resolve it this week, maybe next week she’ll progress in learning at least one lower-level magic or something.

Traumas must be overcome.

But that’s not an easy task.

‘However.’

This is Selenium Saga.

Even if the game has become reality, the basic structure of a game should still be intact.

“Trauma is a ‘condition.'”

“Pardon?”

“A condition, like poison or such. But while those are from external factors, trauma is merely a mental condition like nervousness.”

Trauma.

There were characters whose concept was based on it.

One of them was Suphelda, a first-year student in the Department of Magic at the ‘Rice Bowl Reliable Party,’ known as the ‘Witch of Frost.’

The dungeon we are in right now was actually prepared for her.

While Erhan and Suplé were exploring the western forest together, they stumbled upon a dungeon… It was a sub-quest to resolve her trauma and form a party with Suplé, probably.

“This is a well that reflects your memories.”

“Mine?”

“When you are reflected in the well, the most ‘terrifying’ presence in your memories will appear from the well and attack us.”

“I-Isn’t that dangerous?”

I shook my head at Milige’s words.

“It’s just an illusion. Besides, resistance is possible with your own will.”

Milige’s will… yes, 5.

If the will is high, the likability fluctuates less, and mental debuffs are less likely.

On the contrary, the lower the will, the moment a likability management is missed even for a day, they start spewing out a terrifying line like, ‘Why didn’t you come to see me?’

As the taste fades, I don’t really want to remember.

“But it doesn’t directly hit the body, it hits the mind.”

“S-So…”

“However.”

At my words, Milige became as quiet as a clam.

“If you pass this trial, I guarantee. The somewhat troublesome trauma that is bothering you now will disappear completely.”

At my words, Milige clenched her fist.

“Do you want to challenge it?”

“Yes, please.”

Yes, that’s the spirit.

“Then go and reflect your face in the well.”

At those words, Milige walked forward and then looked back.

“S-Senior.”

“Why?”

“W-Well, if you keep staying there, Senior might also get hurt…”

“I’m here to help. However, I won’t attack.”

“Really?”

“I’m only here to ‘assist’ you. Remember that you must play the direct role.”

“…Yes, understood.”

Nodding, Milige walked out with a composed face and looked inside the well.

And…

“Ahh!”

Milige, who had peered into the well, stumbled back and fell on her bottom, as a familiar arm emerged from the well.

Indigo fur.

Long nails scratching the ground.

Following, another arm came up, and yet another.

Between the arms, three large fangs appeared, and the shining red eyes looked in our direction.

“S-Senior…”

A large wolf.

The Lycansloth emerged from the well, its thorn-like fur standing on end.

Larger and fiercer than what was seen a few days ago, with four arms and three elongated heads.

Such a hybrid-like monster does not exist in Salenium Saga.

It must be a creature born from Milije’s fear and imagination.

─Krarararara!

The beast’s roar reverberated through the valley.

Milije, paralyzed with fear, could do nothing but stare blankly at the monster, not even thinking of running away.

Naturally, the monster aimed to grab Milije first.

Milije closed her eyes tightly.

Tsk.

“I said it like that. [Low Wind Elemental Magic: Wind Blade].”

Two sharp blue orbs generated near me, slicing through the air with sharp wind.

Seizing the opportunity, I grabbed Milije’s robe from behind and pulled her back.

“Snap out of it. What good are you if you just stand there foolishly?”

“Ah, yes, yes! I’m sorry!”

As Milije hastily stepped back, the monster looked down at me.

The creature, with all six pupils dyed a deep red, drooled while gazing at me.

“Nice to see you, fake. Back then, both you and I couldn’t risk each other’s lives, isn’t that right.”

Gripping the dagger in reverse, I casually shrugged.

The exchange of glances… lasted barely a second.

─Krua!

The monster roared and swiftly swung its arms.

“Although the appearance may have changed, the pattern remains the same.”

The attack pattern remained unchanged.

Evade, strike, evade, strike.

With a feather-light movement, I dodged all of its attacks.

In response, the creature, now angrier, swung its arms fiercely.

“Ha.”

Knowing from the start that it’s not real, there’s no fear.

No, from the start, one cannot become a great player by fearing monsters or creatures.

To seasoned players, all monsters are merely ‘entities’ in front of them.

And they are treated as an extension of ‘work’ and handled like ‘treasure chests’ that give items.

I deflect the creature’s claws with the tip of the dagger, using the center of gravity to deflect.

Dodging the descending arm by spinning around, I thrust the dagger held in reverse, then kick the ground and step back.

─Gralarararara!

The enraged creature roars louder and strikes harder.

Of course, its attacks cannot reach me.

Avoiding the claws aimed at my neck, I slide back to dodge its four lower arms.

Covering the ground with rising smoke, I calmly breathe, ‘read’ the unfolding attacks, and dodge them all with precision.

I do not strike back.

I’m only here to block its attacks.

“Seo, senior!”

Eight arms aimed precisely above my head and swooped down.

I gripped the dagger in reverse again, bouncing off, scratching between the claws, skillfully diving towards the range of the eight arms to evade.

Such broad-spectrum attacks are more deadly when trying to escape.

After diving towards the monster, it’s safer to escape.

I gripped the dagger again.

But it doesn’t move.

By now, I think I’ve shown enough of a demonstration.

“It’s your turn now, Milije.”

I turned around and spoke to Milije.

“Face your fears.”